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Steve Perry in talks for Journey comeback

'DON'T STOP BELIEVIN': Members of the band Journey pose after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Friday, Jan. 21, 2005, in Los Angeles. Band members are, from left, Jonathan Cain, George Tickner, former lead vocalist Steve Perry, Aynsley Dunbar, Neal Schon, Robert Fleischman, Ross Valory, Steve Augeri, Steve Smith and Deen Castronovo. Over a 30-year period, Journey released 18 albums, selling 50 million copies on the strength of radio hits such as "Don't Stop Believin'," "Who's Crying Now," and "Open Arms."
Photo: Associated Press/Nick Ut

The “Don’t Stop Believin'” singer has revealed he and former bandmate Neal Schon are in talks to reunite the classic line-up.

He tells Classic Rock magazine, “We’re trying. It’s tough. I’m doing my best in that area, and I can only do so much.”

The news comes less than a year after Perry suffered a cancer scare, and he admits the health emergency made him take stock of his life and career.

He adds, “The older I get, the more I do realize how important what we had all together and how it worked. The older I get… the more I realise we brought that out of each other. I brought things out of them, and they certainly brought a lot of my vocal stuff out of me.”

Schon sparked reports that a Perry reunion was in the works last year when he reached out to the singer on Facebook, writing, “We had amazing chemistry together. I love him with all the love and admiration you could even have. Steve, let’s talk soon.”

Perry was Journey’s frontman from 1977 to 1983. He reunited with his bandmates twice in the 1990s but was replaced after injuring his hip in 1997. He returned to join the band at its 2005 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.

His successors have included Steve Augeri, Jeff Scott Soto and current singer Arnel Pineda, who was hired after Schon spotted him on YouTube.com performing with a Journey tribute band in his native Philippines.

It isn’t clear when Perry plans to rejoin the group, but Journey have North American dates with Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power booked for May and June.